NFL Week 3 Picks: Predicting the Winner and Score for All Upcoming Matchups

Several of the NFL’s top teams face critical Week 3 matchups, as some will travel to hostile environments with unproven quarterbacks, while others need a win to avoid troubling 1-2 starts.

The Denver Broncos and New England Patriots have proved themselves to be contenders in the AFC, but each must overcome different challenges to stay undefeated in this young NFL season. Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks all experienced some struggles so far, and each needs a victory to move above .500.

With that in mind, check out the matchups and schedule for the teams above and the rest of the league for Week 3, along with picks for each game and a breakdown of two of the week’s most notable contests.

Houston at New England

The Patriots were already in a bit of a hole at quarterback with Tom Brady’s four-game suspension, and that hole became much deeper Sunday. Jimmy Garoppolo is unlikely to play in Week 3 after suffering a sprained AC joint during his terrific performance against the Miami Dolphins, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

This leaves rookie Jacoby Brissett as the man set to lead New England against Houston. However, he will not have the luxury of a full week of practice and preparation, as the Patriots will kick off on Thursday night. 

Brissett looked sharp in the preseason, and he managed the offense well after taking over at the end of the second quarter against Miami, finishing 6-of-9 for 92 yards. Per Phil Perry of CSNNE.com, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels feels Brissett has tremendous composure, which should help the quarterback in his first career start:

He was a rookie that doesn’t have any game experience, yet when he went into the game, I think he had good poise and composure and managed the situation well initially. And then he had an opportunity to talk at halftime about some things we wanted to do in the second half. I thought he took advantage of his opportunities. Like every quarterback as a young …

continue reading in source www.bleacherreport.com